WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, applauded Congressional passage on Thursday of the Iran Sanctions Extension Act – a bill that extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to December 31, 2026. Murphy, who supports the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, has been clear in his position that if Iran violates the deal, economic sanctions should be snapped back into place. Murphy joined U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) earlier this year in introducing legislation to extend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996.

“Iran needs to know that if they violate the international nuclear agreement, U.S. sanctions will come down on them like a ton of bricks,” said Murphy. “I have supported the Iran nuclear agreement because I strongly believe that it is the best chance we have at keeping a nuclear weapon from Iran. This sanctions bill, just like the one I introduced with Senator Kaine earlier this year, is a clear signal of our intention to enforce the deal and ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.”

The bill passed today will guarantee that all nuclear material in Iran remains peaceful by allowing the President of the United States to reinstate sanctions on Iran if Iran violates the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Without Congressional action, the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 would have expired at the end of 2016.

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